Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Is Bob Hartley the right coach for this team?

thymebalm · 10-08-2013, 11:39 AM

The way I look at it is he has the resume (Championships) and he has the experience (lots). He seems like a passionate thoughtful guy, I like the way he articulates himself.

I've really liked the neutral zone play and I think we are creating great chances in the offensive zone by having multiple systems of attack.

The special teams and defensive play have been lacking, but those are the hardest systems to instill, and I want to give him ten games, goals are being scored like crazy in the league right now.

Some decisions I haven't liked but I understand in the big picture.
-Glencross hasn't seemed 100% committed but isn't getting less ice. I get it that it must be very difficult to sit him without Cammalleri and Stajan on the bench to help drive the top 6.

-McGrattan playing in the 3rd in a close game. I get it, Grats had played mistake free hockey up until that point. He was driving the play, drawing penalties, etc. But he was still only having 4 mins a night of TOI. Hartley thought he was going to keep playing at this level (historically above himself) and rolled the dice. Grats made a bad mistake.. but he was going to make that mistake eventually anyway. What is really happening here is again, team depth. McGrattan wouldn't have been playing in the 3rd if Hartley had a better option while he rested the rest of the troops.

-Ramo didn't start the home opener. I thought this was a huge mistake. Ramo played great ES hockey, and I thought all the shots that beat him were NHL calibre scoring chances. Hartley had the opportunity to sit MacDonald as the backup coming off a good road win, and go with the Starter. Instead, he tries to create competition and Mac falls flat from the pressure, and now both goalies are coming off losses. I get that it must be intimidating to start a goalie who hasn't played in the league in 4 years. Hartley has completely flinched in the goaltending so far. Berra played well enough to deserve a spot but was beat out because of "nhl experience" not performance in camp, the same reason Ramo is losing minutes. Don't be scared Hartley, take the plunge into a new era of goaltending!

That's about where I sit. I haven't like the Colborne situation at all, but again, forced hand early in the season.

10-08-2013, 11:39 AM	#115
thymebalm #1 Goaltender Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Vancouver Exp:	The way I look at it is he has the resume (Championships) and he has the experience (lots). He seems like a passionate thoughtful guy, I like the way he articulates himself. I've really liked the neutral zone play and I think we are creating great chances in the offensive zone by having multiple systems of attack. The special teams and defensive play have been lacking, but those are the hardest systems to instill, and I want to give him ten games, goals are being scored like crazy in the league right now. Some decisions I haven't liked but I understand in the big picture. -Glencross hasn't seemed 100% committed but isn't getting less ice. I get it that it must be very difficult to sit him without Cammalleri and Stajan on the bench to help drive the top 6. -McGrattan playing in the 3rd in a close game. I get it, Grats had played mistake free hockey up until that point. He was driving the play, drawing penalties, etc. But he was still only having 4 mins a night of TOI. Hartley thought he was going to keep playing at this level (historically above himself) and rolled the dice. Grats made a bad mistake.. but he was going to make that mistake eventually anyway. What is really happening here is again, team depth. McGrattan wouldn't have been playing in the 3rd if Hartley had a better option while he rested the rest of the troops. -Ramo didn't start the home opener. I thought this was a huge mistake. Ramo played great ES hockey, and I thought all the shots that beat him were NHL calibre scoring chances. Hartley had the opportunity to sit MacDonald as the backup coming off a good road win, and go with the Starter. Instead, he tries to create competition and Mac falls flat from the pressure, and now both goalies are coming off losses. I get that it must be intimidating to start a goalie who hasn't played in the league in 4 years. Hartley has completely flinched in the goaltending so far. Berra played well enough to deserve a spot but was beat out because of "nhl experience" not performance in camp, the same reason Ramo is losing minutes. Don't be scared Hartley, take the plunge into a new era of goaltending! That's about where I sit. I haven't like the Colborne situation at all, but again, forced hand early in the season. __________________ Death by 4th round picks.